Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

ratherdashing

ratherdashing

Kablamminator
Hey guys,

I'm looking for some input for an article I'm writing for the Seymour Duncan blog. The article is about pickups that really cut through the mix of a band (especially a band with multiple guitarists). SD and I want to help lead players choose a suitable pickup.

Ideally I'd like a mix of pickup types: humbucker, Strat, Tele, and so on.

From personal experience I'm going to recommend the JB and the SSL-5. Please let me know what you've used that works great for cutting through a band mix.

Thanks!
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

Full Shred - Its strong attack, resonance and snarling treble presence make it stand out.
DD - Its strong attack, harmonics and low end definition stand out.
JB - Its midrange presence fills out the spectrum, while its treble presence stands out.
 
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Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

The typical pickup would be something with a lot of output and, perhaps, a ceramic magnet. But a moderate output, alnico pickup like a '59 can really cut through with aggressive amp settings and a healthy kick in the pants from a nice boost pedal like the SFX-01.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

The JB definitely cuts through, no doubt.

In my experience, the Screamin' Demon does as well. My band has 3 guitarists and I have no problem cutting through when I need to. It also handles good amounts of saturation really well.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

What a great topic. When I was starting out in a band, I could never figure out why my PAF Pro loaded Ibanez had to be boosted so much to be heard for a solo. Even then it sounded thin among the other instruments. A pickup that I might love tonally when I'm practicing solo often sounds very differently when other instruments are mixed in.

I found out about the JB by accident when I scored one from a friend. The eq that a lot of folks complain about really helps the cut. My favorite humbucker in a strat.

The Full Shred was kind of iffy...I felt a little more buried when I used it...but I do like the tones it gets. Plenty of presence but not as much body when playing with other instrumentalists.

I did like the PG neck for a warmer tone that will still have some cut to it. Getting cut with a neck pickup while retaining a balanced tone is a little harder.

The PG+ bridge pickup, which I didn't like when practicing, actually sounds great in a mix.

Another killer pickup for the bridge (at least in a Strat) is a Custom 5. It has cut and low end definition. To me it shines with other instruments in a mix.
 
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Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

For a humbucker- A JB or CC always cuts through an overzealous drummer or deafening bassist. Or a combination of those...

Single coil- I love the Antiquity Texas Hot's in the bridge position of a Strat. Nice cutting tone, but not too thin.

Tele- Any one of the Tele Antiquity's for sure. But if your Tele isn't cutting through at high volume in a band setting with the bridge pickup, well... you might have picked up a Les Paul by mistake in the low lighting... :alcoholic
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

Dimebucker cuts through a mix well. It may be a bit bright when you're jamming alone, but in a mix it just fits.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

The right answer is: if EQ correctly, ALL p'ups will cut through a mix.

HTH,
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

The right answer is: if EQ correctly, ALL p'ups will cut through a mix.
Click to expand...

That.

JB of course, as mentioned. But then again I have no trouble cutting the mix with a C5 in the guitars I use C5s in, and I'm sure there will be a chorus of "WTFs" like there always is when I mention C5s......
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

RayBarbeeMusic said:
That.

JB of course, as mentioned. But then again I have no trouble cutting the mix with a C5 in the guitars I use C5s in, and I'm sure there will be a chorus of "WTFs" like there always is when I mention C5s......
Click to expand...

:wrf: :joke:

C5s are great too. But it's all about context, ie the guitar itself. Any pickup can sound great if it's in the right axe, or downright horrible in the wrong one. Some are just more used to sounding "right" in the variety of axe, while others are more picky.

But I would still have to be pick the JB for an easy cut through the band. It sounds phenomenal during leads, but its lower register frequency sometimes disappear all to easily during crushing rhythm sounds, and that aspect of it gets criticized sometimes. However, the dilemma can be addressed with some amp, guitar, and pickup tweaking.

And it's worth the tweaks, because JB for me is quintessential rock sound, if I had just one guitar, it would have to have a JB in it.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

Duncan Distortion, JB, PG, and Custom, for people who don't know how to EQ.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

LtKojak said:
The right answer is: if EQ correctly, ALL p'ups will cut through a mix.

HTH,
Click to expand...

Good point, but isn't it fair to say that some pickups will produce better results than others? The pickup, after all, is the first thing in the signal chain. Anything that comes after (including EQ) can only alter what's already there.

For sake of argument, let's say you had a weird pickup that only produced frequencies between 1k and 2k. Boosting the 3 - 4k frequency band with a pedal or your amp will accomplish nothing. You can't boost what isn't there.

More practically speaking, it would be easier to EQ a pickup that already emphasizes or reduces the frequencies you're looking to boost and cut, would it not?
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

RayBarbeeMusic said:
That.

JB of course, as mentioned. But then again I have no trouble cutting the mix with a C5 in the guitars I use C5s in, and I'm sure there will be a chorus of "WTFs" like there always is when I mention C5s......
Click to expand...

No argument here. I'm very pleased with how I fit in the mix when I use my C5-equipped Strat. I do think there are other pickups that are more cutting than the C5, but it gets the job done.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

But it depends on what the other guitarist does. You need to occupy a different zone, otherwise you get mud. Take Scorpions for example which always have PAF-class rhythm guitar and higher output lead guitar.

Also, if there is a real problem cutting through the mix, tie the keyboarder's left hand behind his back.
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

uOpt said:
But it depends on what the other guitarist does. You need to occupy a different zone, otherwise you get mud. Take Scorpions for example which always have PAF-class rhythm guitar and higher output lead guitar.
Click to expand...

Excellent point!

Also, if there is a real problem cutting through the mix, tie the keyboarder's left hand behind his back.
Click to expand...

Keyboard player?!? What is this, A Flock of Seagulls?
 
Re: Help me with a SD Blog article: what pickups cut through the mix?

I use a DD straight into a Marshall TSL 100 JCM2000 loaded with tung-sol 12AX7's and Svetlana EL34 ----> EQ is: Bass: 10, Mids: 8, Treble: 7-8 (depends on the room), Presence: 8. Distortion for rhtym is 7.

No wonder the BKP Aftermath couldn't compete!!!
 
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